The Suisun City Council recently accepted a federal grant to pay for the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Program. The curriculum, taught by specially trained police officers, will be introduced at CrystalMiddle School this school year, but may expand to the three elementary schools in SuisunCity depending on scheduling.

“The Fairfield-SuisunUnifiedSchool District has been a great partner of ours in bringing these types of youth-oriented prevention programs to our schools,” said Police Chief Ed Dadisho. “The District recognizes the importance of implementing the GREAT Program as a preemptive anti-gang measure for our at-risk youth.”

The GREAT Program, which is administered by the federal Office of Justice Program’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, is a classroom curriculum intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. GREAT lessons focus on providing students with life skills to help them avoid engaging in delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems.

Friday, July 16, 2010

SUISUN CITY - As part of the City's ongoing commitment to enhance safe routes to local schools, the Public Works Department is seeking contractors qualified to install new pedestrian signals at three key intersections.

New pedestrian countdown signals will be installed at three frequently used surface crossings on Highway 12

Marina Boulevard

Sunset Avenue/Grizzly Island Road

Lawler Ranch Parkway/Emperor Drive

The new signals, known as countdown signals, will indicate to pedestrians the amount of time they have remaining to cross Highway 12 before the traffic signals change.

These key intersections are commonly used by students to travel by foot or bicycle to various school campuses in Suisun City. Suisun City Public Works has coordinated the installation of the new signal devices with Caltrans.

The intention is to have the new signals up as soon as possible to enhance the safety of students returning to school in the fall.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

One night a year, everyone in the community is invited to join with friends and neighbors in block parties across Suisun City to focus on public safety awareness and basic safety prevention techniques.“This is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and at the same time stand together against criminals who prey on the innocent,” said Chief Ed Dadisho.

It’s all part of National Night Out 2010, a nationwide effort to build safer communities through the old-fashioned small town virtues of getting to know your neighbors and watching out for each other.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and to send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and united in preventing crime, and taking back our neighborhoods.

The event will bring together various organizations committed to promoting community unification. This extraordinary event will include a free BBQ, children’s jump houses (sponsored by Code Kid), as well as other youth games and activities. There will be informational booths and safety demonstrations by local public safety agencies. All residents are invited to attend and join in the festivities.

In addition to the community block party, various Neighborhood Watch groups also will host localized block parties for their areas. City leaders, Firefighters and Police Officers will visit such parties throughout the evening. To register an individual block party, contact Pam Greenwood at 707-435-2748 or pgreenwood@suisun.com by July 27.

Lock your doors, turn on your outside light and spend the evening with your neighbors, your friends and your public safety officials. We all have to start somewhere, let’s make this the first step together.